Ridglan Farms beagles: Big Dog Ranch Rescue secures release of remaining dogs

LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, Fla - Ridglan Farms is closing permanently, and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services is taking new steps to replace animal testing with alternative technology. 

More than 1,600 beagles have already been rescued from Ridglan Farms in Dane County. That left a crucial question – what about the hundreds of others left behind? The answer was revealed on Monday, June 15.

Beginning of the end for Ridglan Farms

What we know:

Lauree Simmons, the CEO and found of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, said the beginning of the end for Ridglan Farms is here. 

"I made you all a promise," Simmons told FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn. "No more breeding. No more selling. No more testing. And full closure. Not one dog will remain."

Simmons said on Monday that Big Dog Ranch Rescue has secured a legal agreement to remove at least 475 dogs from the Dane County facility that breeds beagles for scientific research. 

Moved to Marshall

Dig deeper:

On Monday, hundreds of dogs were bussed from Ridglan Farms to a private farm in Marshall, Wisconsin.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android

All 200 dogs are brought there were expected to meet with the vets for a health check, vaccinations, and to have a chip implanted which can be read with a wand. After that they’ll be spayed or neutered and prepped for adoption.

The news in Wisconsin was amplified in Washington. On Monday, U.S. Health Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins announced the creation of ORIVA, the Office of Research, Innovation, Validation and Application. 

More than 300 beagles were expected to be removed from Ridglan on Monday and Tuesday. The rest will come out in August, when Ridglan completes its last ongoing research project. 

In a statement, Ridglan Farms said the dogs they are transferring are happy and healthy, and they hope they continue to flourish in their new homes. They add, "We ask that the years-long harassment campaign targeting the research facility's owners, staff and neighbors come to an end."

Again, following the August transfer, no dogs will remain at Ridglan Farms. This agreement completes the successful rescue and relocation of 2,110 beagles carried out on April 29. 

Statements

What they're saying:

The following is a statement from Lauree Simmons, Founder and CEO of Big Dog Ranch Rescue:

"We are very happy to announce that Big Dog Ranch Rescue has negotiated a deal with Ridglan Farms to release all of the remaining dogs to Big Dog Ranch Rescue. Big Dog Ranch Rescue thanks Ridglan Farms for working with our team to coordinate the transfer of all of the remaining dogs and for its commitment to permanently closing its dog breeding, sales, research, and testing operations. As this effort comes to a close, we respectfully ask that the public refrain from further protests directed at Ridglan Farms, its owners, or its employees. Our focus now should be on supporting these dogs as they transition into their new lives. A big thanks goes out to all of our Big Dog Ranch Rescue supporters, iPaw Rescue, and the Robert and Perri Bishop Foundation, who helped make this outcome possible. Most importantly, we are excited for these dogs to begin their new lives. After spending their lives in a breeding facility, they will now have the opportunity to experience the loving homes they deserve."

The following is a statement from Ridglan Farms on the sales/donations of remaining dogs: 

"Ridglan Farms recently reached an agreement to sell 325 additional dogs to Big Dog Ranch. Those animals will be transferred this week. Additionally, Ridglan Farms agreed to donate all the remaining dogs it owns to Big Dog Ranch before the end of August. These are all happy, healthy animals as demonstrated by extensive USDA inspection documentation and also the most recent DATCP inspection which occurred just a few weeks ago. DATCP officials identified no animal care issues whatsoever during their May 11th visit. We hope these dogs will continue to flourish in their new homes."

"Now that transfer plans have been finalized for the rest of Ridglan Farms’ dogs, we ask that the years-long harassment campaign targeting the research facility’s owners, staff and neighbors comes to an end. We also hope Wisconsin’s legal system will hold accountable the individuals who organized and carried out the repeated violent assaults and thefts that have recently taken place at our facility."

NewsPets and AnimalsWisconsin